CTIJF 2025 grand finale: the jazz stars set to sizzle as the city plans to swing all night, tonight
Cape Town International Jazz Festival
Scenes from last night's Cape Town International Jazz Festival events at the CTICC. Tonight is expected to be just as vibrant, if not more so.
Image: Armand Hough/ Independent Newspapers
It has been a Cape Town International Jazz Festival to remember with still one night left to savour and take in local and global sensations at the CTICC tonight.
The festival this year has had quite a few coups, and many of them will be on stage tonight, in the last night of yet another successful jazz festival which has proven why it is known as Africa's Grandest Gathering.
A voice that transcends time, a presence that commands the stage, Lira returns to #CTIJF2025.
Image: Supplied
A voice that resonates with grace, strength, and pure soul, Lira is a true icon of Afro-soul and jazz. Effortlessly blending rich, velvety vocals with uplifting melodies, she crafts performances that are both intimate and transcendent. Her music carries wisdom, passion, and a timeless elegance - an experience that stays with you long after the final note.
Thandiswa Mazwai at 22.15
Thandiswa Mazwai stands ready to cast her spell through music, holding the promise of heartfelt connections and a celebration of jazz that is, as she states, both revolutionary and soulful ay the CTIJF tonight.
Image: File image
A cultural icon and one of South Africa’s most powerful voices, Mazwai embodies the soul of a nation. Seamlessly weaving Xhosa heritage with jazz, soul, and Afro-futurism, her performances are nothing short of transformative—charged with emotion, storytelling, and an undeniable stage presence. Expect a performance that is both deeply personal and universally resonant.
ROSIES
Igor Butman Quartet at 23.45
Russian jazz saxophonist Igor Butman at the Cape Town Waterfront ahead of his performance at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival tonight.
Image: Picture:Ian Landsberg.
Renowned Russian saxophonist and bandleader Igor Butman stands as a towering figure in the jazz world. Together with his quartet, which includes Oleg Akkuratov (piano), Nikolay Zatolochny (double bass) and Eduard Zizak (drums), Butman is set for an electrifying performance tonight. As the leader of the Moscow Jazz Orchestra, Butman has collaborated with international jazz luminaries, bringing Russian jazz to global prominence. His performances are celebrated for their technical brilliance and emotive depth, offering audiences a masterclass in contemporary jazz artistry. Bill Clinton, a well-known saxophone enthusiast and former US president, once praised Butman as "one of the greatest saxophonists in the world".
Bombay Lights at 18:00
Bombay Lights promises to enchant audiences with their unique fusion of soul and Indian classical roots blended seamlessly with contemporary jazz.
Image: Lutho Pasiya
A sonic journey through soul, Indian classical roots, jazz, and modern textures, Bombay Lights creates music that is both hypnotic and deeply emotive. Their sound pulses with dreamy melodies, intricate rhythms, and an unmistakable cinematic feel, offering a performance that is as immersive as it is unforgettable.
MOLELEKWA
Malcolm Jiyane at 20.30pm
Celebrated trombonist and bandleader Malcolm Jiyane will perform at CTIJF 2025.
Image: Andile Buka
Trombonist, composer, and visionary, Jiyane crafts music that is raw, deeply spiritual and emotionally charged. Drawing from South Africa’s rich jazz heritage while shaping something entirely his own, his performances are a profound expression of history, identity, and pure creative fire.
Benjamin Jeptha ft. Kujenga at 00.30
Representing the contemporary soul of jazz, Benjamin Jephta is a rising star known for his innovative sound that blends African rhythms with modern jazz and hip hop.
Image: Hymie Sokhupa
Bassist, composer and sonic explorer Jeptha stands at the forefront of contemporary jazz, effortlessly fusing African rhythms with modern jazz and hip-hop. Joined by the deeply evocative Kujenga, this performance will be a masterclass in groove, harmony, and improvisation - an immersive experience that speaks to both heart and intellect.
MANENBERG
Ramon Alexander Trio ft. Leslie Kleinsmith at 19.30 Cape Jazz pianist Ramon Alexander leads his trio with a deep reverence for South African musical traditions. Collaborating with veteran vocalist Leslie Kleinsmith, their performances are a heartfelt fusion of jazz improvisation and soulful storytelling. Alexander’s compositions, rooted in Cape Town’s rich cultural tapestry, resonate with authenticity and passion.
Ritmo at 21.15 A dynamic ensemble of Cape Town’s finest musicians, fuses salsa, bossa nova, marrabenta, samba, jazz, and funk. Their high-energy performances are a celebration of diverse musical influences, promising festival-goers an unforgettable experience at CTIJF 2025.
* For all the logistics you need to be aware of for tonight, click here.